Phuketwan News Analysis
PHUKET: A Russian tourist drowned at Phuket's Karon beach this afternoon, plunging the local council, the lifeguard service and the Phuket tourism industry further into crisis.
It was the third death by drowning of a tourist this month at Karon beach, and the thirteenth at the beach in the 16 months since accurate records have been kept.
The Russian man, named as Sergey Pronichev, 38, was told not to go into the water but ignored the red flags and paid with his life.
Two lifeguards plucked him from the surf not far from the Karon roundabout about 4.10pm and administered cpr, a lifeguard spokesperson said, but Mr Pronichev died at Patong Hospital, where his body now lies.
It is being alleged that Mr Pronichev had been drinking, a claim that will only provoke more arguments about whether he was primarily responsible for his own death.
The point now is that with so many drowning deaths continuing to occur at Karon especially, the entire Phuket tourism industry needs to become involved in a solution that prevents these needless drownings.
If all Phuket resorts warned guests with the same care and attention that is paid to marketing Phuket as a year-round beach holiday destination, more unnecessary deaths could be avoided.
Good resorts are recognising their responsibility. Others are not. The lifeguard service is improving, but once swimmers enter the water, it's too late.
Russian signage on the beach has made no difference: people who have paid good money for a beach holiday are intent on taking it, even if as today, red ''no swim'' flags are flying.
There are no easy answers. Recognition that it is a Phuket community issue and that there are flaws in the approach of marketing Phuket year-round, without appropriate warnings, would be a step forward.
Until then, the toll will continue to mount. This month it has been an Australian, a Chinese and a Russian, all at Karon beach.
Next month? Will a entire family of tourists be carried out and drown, mother, father, two or three children?
That's what it might take for the managements at all Phuket resorts to begin paying attention to the need for everyone to seek a solution.
Latest Phuket's lifeguards are performing better than ever before on beaches, say the island's most knowledgeable water safety experts - and tourists who have been rescued.
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UPDATE Local Karon authorities are to urge resorts to warn tourists more thoroughly in an effort to end the series of 12 deaths by drownings at Phuket's most dangerous beach.
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Latest Back in Australia from the holiday on which a friend drowned, Australian Lisa Crosland believes the Karon community needs to lift its standards to save lives.
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Phuket Monsoon Claims Chinese Tourist in Karon Beach Drama
Latest Rough seas at Karon beach contribute to the death of a Chinese tourist who is dragged from the water, walks away, then collapses and dies later in hospital.
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How many hotels are in Phuket? Hundreds if not thousands. How many airlines fly into Phuket? A few, maybe 40?
Perhaps the head of tourism could enlist their help in warning passengers of the dangers...
Posted by Zor on July 31, 2011 20:44